Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

On November 6, 1986, President Reagan signed into law the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA).This legislation was completed by Congress one day before the 99th Congress adjourned.This Article will discuss previous legislative attempts to control immigration and the evolution of this comprehensive immigration reform bill.Major provisions that Congressman Lungren believes are integral to comprehensive immigration reform legislation will be highlighted. PREVIOUS UNITED STATES LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO CRAFT IMMIGRATION REFORMLegislation to control illegal or undocumented immigration dates back to the early 1950's. 1 Attempts to pass legislation prohibiting employment and establishing penalties for the harboring of undocumented aliens back in 1951 and 1952 were only partially successful. 2 The Act of March 20, 1952, subsequently recodified as sections 274 and 287(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, made the willful importation, transportation, or harboring of undocumented aliens a felony, punishable by a $2000 fine or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.3 However, employment was specifi-* United States Representative from Long Beach, California.B.A. (cum laude) 1968, University of Notre Dame; J.D. 1971, Georgetown University.Congressman Lungren serves as the ranking minority member on the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law.This Article was prepared with the staff assistance of Margaret Webber, Associate Counsel on the House Committee on the Judiciary.